Page:Condor9(6).djvu/30

 x96 VoL. IX SUMMER NOTES FROM AN ARIZONA CAMP By AUSTIN PAUL SMITH W H]TSTOJV] Mounlains, Arizona, Augusl zo, z9o7.--This being a very dry year and most of the Thrasher species enjoying aridity, I ascribe as a reason for Toxosloma crissale rangingup to 6000 feet in numbers, and even breeding at that altitude, having found nestlings at 5500 feet in the latter part of May. At Benson, Arizona, 3500 feet, full-fledged juveniles were found April 20, and eggs May 2 and 3. But one Palmer Thrasher (Toxosloma cuviroslre 13alm- eri) has ventured into the mountains, and this one really only into the foothills at 4000 feet. The Bendire Thrasher (Toxosloma benditel)seems to have a defined limit where the oaks begin. However, in the San Pedro River region, it is my opinion that it outnumbers both its relatives. It may be germane to the subject to note that two adults of T. bendirei, shot while leaving their nests containing eggs, proved females. When I reached the mountains on May 6th, the Scott Oriole (fclerus13arisorum) was to be Seen or heard everywhere. A month later an occasional Arizona Hooded Oriole (fclerus cucullalus nelsoni) was to be seen in the canyons; but not until July 1, and the advent of the agave blossoms, was it prominent. Only one Bullock Oriole (fclerus bullocki) has been noted up here, a female on July 2. On August 15 both nelsoni and 13arisorum were still abundant in the oak region. Of the Tanager trio, May 10 marked the first arrival of ?irariga ludoviciana. From that date until June 2, it was quite well distributed, mostly above 5000 feet, and in mixed flocks of Scott Orioles, Black-headed Grosbeaks and Lazuli Buntings. They reappeared August 12, at 4500 feet elevation. ]/ranga rubra cooSeri never came up higher than the outlying live oaks, and then but occasionally. Yet only eight miles away in the San Pedro Valley it is in summer as common as the Vet- million Flycatcher. 'iranga.he13alica was first observed May 17. All those seen for the first month or more, in fact some taken in July, show very little red in the males. They are evenly distributed over this range, quite as abundant at 4500 feet as t 6500 feet. I have had the pleasure of observing four members of the Caprimulgidze about my camp at 4500 feet. Western (Chordeiles virginianus henryi) and Texas ( Chordeiles aculif3ennis lexens/s)Nighthawks were both abundant at intervals, as were also the Poorwill (_Phalceno131ilus nnllallii)and Stevens Whip-poor-will(Anlroslornus vociferus rnacromyslax. This last seems quite numerous, much more so than in the Huachuca Mountains. Among the examples secured one 3 shows no trace of buff on the throat.(No. 5451, elev. 4500 ft., June 26, 1907; L. 9.85, W. 6.43, T. 5.) My Stevens Whip-poor-wills (4 in all) were obtained near the same spot--a ravine in which runs a narrow rivulet of water over a sandy bed. When the required degree of darkness had arrived rnacromyslax would come flying down from the higher elevations and alight parallel with the stream, and by a queer lateral move- ment of the neck, proceed to drink, often remaining in such a position several minutes. In August a female Scaled Partridge (Callie131a squamata) was taken with an egg ready to be laid. However, at that date, almost full-grown birds are the rule. Between 4000 and 4500 feet three species of Partridge may be found at times. CallielSla squamala, Mearns Quail (Cyrlonyx monlezumce mearnsi), and Ganabel Partridge (o13horlyx gainbell), and in wet years undoubtedly the Masked Bobwhite (Colinus ridgwayi). The latest record for this rare bird was in August,